Sled



July 1, 1958 A. E. BRANDON SLED Filed Feb. 14, 1956 INVENTOR.

United States SLED Arthur E. Brandon, Sauk Rapids, Minn.

Application February 14, 1956, Serial No. 565,331

1 Claim. (Cl. 28ll--1Z) This invention generally relates to that type of device which is slidably movable over water or snow and includes a single runner or ski for engaging the water or snow for sliding movement whereby a platform is provided for carrying a person or persons, and while for the purposes of clarity, the device is described as a sled, it is to be understood that the device may be used equally well on water or snow.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel sled construction which may be employed on either snow or water and which is guided by the shifting of the center of gravity of the load carried by the sled :hereby persons using the sled may guide the same by merely shifting their weight for tilting the sled about its longitudinal axis.

An additional object of the invention and particularly the shape of the deck, is to provide a surface upon which the occupant or occupants can assume a variety of positions, namely, lying, sitting, kneeling and standing wherein these positions can be taken when the sled is being used either for snow or water.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sled including a central runner or ski disposed below a platform together with a pair of outrigger runners or skis supported from the outer edges of the platform wherein the central runner or ski normally forms the sole sup port for the sled and the outrigger runners or skis limit the tilting movement thereof and facilitate the use of the sled when it is following a curved path.

Other objects of the present invention will reside in its simplicity of construction, ease of operation, adaptation for its particular purposes, ease of steering, safety and relatively inexpensive manufacturing cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully here inafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the sled of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 2;2 of Figure 1 illustrating the details of construction of the sled and the relationship of the central runner or ski to the outrigger runners or skis;

Figure 3 is a transverse, vertical sectional View taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 33 of Figure 2 illustrating further structural details of the sled construction.

Referring now specifically to the drawing, the numeral 12 generally designates the invention which comprises a central ski or runner 44 provided with an upwardly curved forward end 46 having an aperture 48. The ski or runner 44 has a pair of longitudinally elongated mount- 2,841,406 Patented July 1, 1958 ing bars 5th on the upper surface thereof for supporting a generally rectangular and elongated platform 52. The platform 52 has a centrally disposed notch 54 in the center at the forward end thereof and the platform 52 is disposed in vertically spaced relation to the central ski or -unner 4-4 with the longitudinal axis thereof being in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the central ski 4 The inwardly extending notch or U-shaped cutout 5d defines a pair of upwardly curved end portions 56 on the platform 52 and the edges of the platform 52 adjacent the upwardly curved end portions 56 are provided with upstanding side members 58 having slots or handholes 6% therein. Also, a pair of inverted U-shaped rope handles 62 are provided on the platform 52 adjacent the rear edge thereof and a covering of anti-slip material 64 is disposed on the upper surface of the platform 52 whereby a person or persons may be positioned on the platform 52 and be provided with adequate handles for holding on and also provided with material 64 to prevent accidental slipping on the platform 52.

A pair of outrigger skis or runners 66 is provided in spaced parallel relation to the central ski 44 and is disposed in a plane vertically above the plane of the central runner 5-4. The outrigger skis or runners 66 are mounted on the undersurface of the platform 52 and are provided with upwardly curved end portions 68 secured to the undersurface of the upwardly curved end portions 56 of the platform 52 whereby the outrigger skis or runners 66 limit the tilting movement of the platform 52 and also aid in turning the sled 12 when the person on the platform 52 tilts the sled 12 for guiding the movement thereof.

It will appear evident that the invention may be used equally well on the water or on the snow wherein the substantial width of the central ski which is more than one-third of the width of the platform 20 will adequately support the entire device plus the persons riding on the same in either snow or water for proper operation thereof.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling Within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A sled comprising a center ski, a pair of bars extending along opposite sides of the center ski on top thereof and fixed thereto, a platform supported centrally by said pair of bars, a pair of flat out-rigger ski bars extending along opposite sides of the platform and fixed to the bottom thereof above said center ski, said platform having a front notch in the longitudinal center thereof and upwardly curved side portions at opposite sides of the notch, said out-rigger ski bars underlying and being fixed to said curved portions and curving in conformance therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 664,215 Hickson Dec. 18, 1900 1,578,415 Ferris Mar. 30, 1926 2,181,391 Burgeson et a1 Nov. 28, 1939 2,464,016 Berg Mar. 8, 1949 2,545,268 Flajole Mar. 13, 1951 2,605,112 Gierke July 29, 1952 2,614,857 Mathisen Oct. 21, 1952 

